CA Question

[learmoia]

No, but I see plenty of examples of meaningless or vague marketing terms all around me.   

The medical term "May provide temporary relief" is my favorite..

[Lemosteam]

So a while back someone posted a discussion about tiny steel ball weight systems that you pour into place and then hit it with "super thin CA" to keep it there.  Anybody found that available in the US yet?

[Lemosteam]

In my hobies (and in life in general) I use all three viscosity CA (along with several other types of adhesives), but I mostly use the thin CA.

I never apply it straight from the bottle (as it will run all over the place).  I squeeze out a small amount onto a disposable surface (I use a cupped piece of aluminum foil), then I dip one of my home-made applicators in the pool of glue and then deposit tiny amount where needed.  I then use a MicroBrush to apply some accelerator (if needed) to speed up setting of the glue. I use BSI brand of CA and accelerator.



The applicators are sawing needles with the eye partially cut off, mounted in acrylic rod.  I picked up this hint years ago in FinescaleModeler Magazine.

Pete, I have been making my own split end applicators by pulling the used fuzz off the white micro brushes and rocking a brand new exacto tip down into the stem that is left behind after fuszz removal.  Probably not as fine as your metal applicators, but works good in a pinch and those old micro brushes become used up really quick from paint or glue.  Nice little recycled tool.

[peteski]

Whatever works for you John. Sounds like a good idea.

As far as the steel ball system goes, what makes you think it is a commercial system  (rather than someone just describing a home-brewed technique)?  Why not try it yourself and see how it works?  But using balls you end up with lots of hollow space.  A low-temp alloy poured in the same area would probably work better.

To be honest, I don't like the sound of that "system".  First of all, if there is even a small hole in the item being filled, thin CA can flow out making a mess. Then the steel balls can rust over time, even just from humid air. The rust might make the glue to separate from the balls, causing them to become dislodged.  Lead shot would probably be a better choice of metal.  Or just use lead putty with no glue.

[Lemosteam]

@peteski , that does not answer my question.  I may want to use it for other things, such a using capillary action to allow the glue to seep between two layered etches, instead of painting them as was suggested earlier. 

[peteski]

@peteski , that does not answer my question.  I may want to use it for other things, such a using capillary action to allow the glue to seep between two layered etches, instead of painting them as was suggested earlier.

If you are talking about details and availability of the the thin CA and steel ball ballast system then I personally don't have any info on it. I'm also not sure you whether need any "system" to do that. Any brand of thin CA glue will wick into thin gaps between surfaces or objects.  Not sure if that "system's" CA glue is any different than any standard thin CA glue.

[Lemosteam]

The question was if anyone had found the super thin CA here in the USA that was referenced in the thread. Not about the weight system.